My Diagnosis Story

What symptoms led up to your diagnosis?

On reflection, it was about 20 years of symptoms that I'd either mentioned to my doctors or physios. One physio had been quite angry when I said it feels like my ligaments or joints feel like they are dislocating when I move. He then carried on the rest of the consultation, only talking to my husband. Siting in the car park afterwards I just cried, as I'd been made to feel a complete charleton.

What tests did your doctor do, and what was this experience like?

No tests by my doctors, after seeing a consultant about one knee failing me coming downstairs, he said I should see a rheumatologist. Next time I went to my doctors I mentioned this and the doctor said you've had a rheumatology blood test that showed as negative. So you can't be referred, when I insisted that's what the knee consultant had said she got quite angry, but eventually she did refer me.

Upon learning about your diagnosis- what happened next?

Luckily I got referred to Salford Hospital, who had a fibromyalgia clinic, so I went to the occupational department, physio and some group sessions on pain management and relaxation classes.